This one is just weird. The soccer village is normally dead, why end there? And gondolas across downtown? As a way to go up a hill there was thought there as it took people up a hill no one wants to walk up. But from Barney allis plaza? Why?

And taking the tax will just end with it thrown out. It’s the sign of a lazy plan.

The last time I say Clay gathering petitions he was asking people to 'sign a petition for better transportation' so lots of people signed without asking for details. I hope this one doesn't even get on the ballot.

kcjak wrote:The last time I say Clay gathering petitions he was asking people to 'sign a petition for better transportation' so lots of people signed without asking for details. I hope this one doesn't even get on the ballot.

Well, we are talking about a city administration that once blocked residents they didn’t like or who criticized the city from accessing the @kcmo twitter account. And the city administration who gave a presentation that included a list of online “frenemies” - most of whom they had also blocked. So if there were a list like what Chastain describes it would not be a total shock.

The last time I saw a Chastainian acolyte collecting signatures was 2014 in the foyer of Price Chopper/ Milgram's in Brookside (at B'kside Plaza and Meyer). My elderly father flew into full curmudgeon mode and interrogated him about Chastain's Virginia residence.

There's clearly some resentment that he can't get his things to pass when he has routes starting at Union Station that doesn't expand the streetcar.

His numbers also make no sense yet again. Just the 13 miles of track (not following Main but starting at Union Station) at $100 million per mile is the whole budget right there. How does any of the rest happen?

My favorite part is about how it steals about half of the bus system funding as if it's just available to use. Who will drive these busses now that there's not enough money for wages? There's a reason that busses are replaced on a 15 year cycle.

His latest proposal, which Chastain hopes to get on the November ballot, is projected to cost $1.3 billion in capital construction and be financed by extending the current 3/8-cent bus sales tax for 25 years and adding a new, 25-year, 1/4-cent capital improvement sales tax.

A key element of the latest plan is a "virtual rail" route between Union Station and Kansas City International Airport. The Chinese-engineered system, Chastain said, would use driverless buses that look like light-rail trains but operate on rubber tires in a dedicated highway lane.

The existing streetcar system downtown would remain in place but would not be expanded.
From Union Station, two "smart rail" trains would extend separately to the Truman Sports Complex and eventually to Lee's Summit, and to the Kansas City Zoo in Swope Park.

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority's diesel-powered buses would be replaced with electric vehicles. A new fleet of driverless, 15-seat electric shuttle buses would bring people to and from light rail stops.

A two-mile aerial gondola system would link the downtown convention district with Penn Valley Park.

In steps that Chastain acknowledges are controversial, some roads would be closed. All roads and motor-vehicle traffic in Penn Valley Park would be removed.

Also, "blighted" Troost Avenue between Emmanuel Cleaver II and Meyer boulevards would be closed to vehicular traffic. Only rail, pedestrians and bicycles would be allowed.

At the Price Chopper in Brookside when Clay shoved clipboard in my face on the way in. Avoided it like the plague, gave the death stare and kept walking. But, guy behind me actually says, “Go Fuck Yourself!”. Very un-Kansas City like so I was a little shocked, but then a proud smile lit my face. Maybe, we’re making some progress. Also, I’m sure the guy was on this board, so fess up.

mykn wrote:Ya know, driverless busses sound like a really terrible idea. I've had a few times where passengers would have gotten into a fight if it wasn't for a driver calming things down.

Driverless implies automation of movement.
There's plenty of driveless transit systems. Two examples are in Vancouver and the Airtrain to JFK. Apparently parts of the Paris Metro are going driverless.

It doesn't imply there's no one on board to keep the peace. Right now the bus driver can't walk up to these individuals while driving. A person doing fare validation after departing, keeping the peace and taking action in an emergency could be on board said hypothetical vehicles.

mykn wrote:Ya know, driverless busses sound like a really terrible idea. I've had a few times where passengers would have gotten into a fight if it wasn't for a driver calming things down.

Driverless implies automation of movement.
There's plenty of driveless transit systems. Two examples are in Vancouver and the Airtrain to JFK. Apparently parts of the Paris Metro are going driverless.

It doesn't imply there's no one on board to keep the peace. Right now the bus driver can't walk up to these individuals while driving. A person doing fare validation after departing, keeping the peace and taking action in an emergency could be on board said hypothetical vehicles.